Smith's Aussies to give T20 a real crack

The Aussies will play a series against South Africa in the lead-up to the World T20 Championship. Photo: AAP Image.

Australia lost three consecutive games to India in January, but captain Steve Smith says he is still confident his team can win next month's World T20 title on the sub continent.

The Aussie squad has left for South Africa for three warm-up games leading into the only tournament they haven't won, the closest being a defeat in the final to England in 2010.

Smith said winning a World T20 title and an away Ashes series were two major items left on his bucket list.

"It (the T20 championship) is one that's eluded us. It's going to be a tough tour in India, in conditions that are foreign to us," Smith said.

"But I think we've got the squad to give it a real shake."

The skipper said he expected injured quartet Nathan Coulter-Nile (shoulder), Shane Watson (abdominal strain), Aaron Finch (hamstring) and James Faulkner (hamstring) to be fit for Friday's first T20 against the Proteas.

He also said the games in South Africa would have a bearing on the batting order for the World T20, with players including David Warner, Finch, Usman Khawaja, Watson and himself all aiming for spots.

"I'm not sure of the make-up of our top three or four yet - there's a lot guys who can fill that position," Smith said.

"We've got some very destructive and talented batters up the top of the order."